What is Christian Hip Hop?

A question worth repeating from the Wade-O Radio Show's interview with my family The Cross Movement, Hear at http://www.wadeoradio.com/interviews/530-full-interview-w-cross-movement , What is Christian Hip Hop?

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People & Blogs

Tags:

• Christian Hip Hop
• Holy Hip Hop

[iceburg46]

i dont think there is such a thing to be honest. i think that there can be christians who rap, but as far a christian hip hop, i dont think it can be possible. Because that would mean putitng some sort of speration or classification on hip hop, which it clearly doesnt have. Which, is also a problem in itself. Because when u think about it Rock has divisions ie:Alternative, punk, heavy metal etc. but there is no "dance hip hop" or "club hip hop" you can call it that, but theres no real seperation

[derocdero]

@iceburg46 Can hip hop have different descriptions?

[YouGeneration]

Common definition-Christian hip-hop is hip-hop with a bible flavor. These days I am finding that there is "seminary class" hip-hop, and "throw yo hands up if you love Jesus" hip-hop and very little "let me tell you about Jesus without then using lofty terms hip-hop". I think there is a distinction and should be; to classify what type of hip-hop it is since not everyone is on the same tip and all have a difference in methodology.

[atlas0hills]

Having said that not all of Christian hip hop culture is necessarily Christian, meaning not everyone is lining up everything they're doing with scripture or making that the goal. And I don't see a lot of community in Christian hip hop either. I did check out the Wade-O interview and heard... "CM is a family" and "Ambassador is our brother" but then they say they haven't spoken to him. Really? And he's your "brother"? But maybe I heard that wrong. If not, it's sad..

[atlas0hills]

By definition Christian hip hop is (or should be) a Christ-centered version of (or response to) hip hop, which is a culture. And by culture I mean the process by which people live their lives (meaning… style of dress, communication norms, art, lifestyle choices, ways of thinking, and so forth). So rap music or Christian rap is an expression of the hip hop or Christian hip hop culture.

[iceburg46]

I believe the content which you rap about can be Christian in nature, but I don't know if there can exactly be a Christian hip hop per say. I haven't really seen any subcategories in hip hop at all. I do however think we need them to differentiate the type of music that is being produced, like every other genre, but fir the most part I have always seen hip hop lumped together so this is why I feel this way

[MrTruthClarity]

Music was originally made to Glorify God. All Christian music is a reflection of that. Weather it be by blessing the Lord through the verses or telling of a struggle and how the Father has delivred you. It is also to help encourage our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ by uplifting the spirit thrugh the joy of the Lord.

[sIXsTRingZ00]

@derocdero I think Christian hip-hop is hip-hop that directly glorifies Christ. Since Christian hip-hop is so starkly different in content I think it would be somewhat of an injustice to not look at is a relevant sub-genre. So yeah, there is a such thing...IMO.

[derocdero]

@sIXsTRingZ00 Thanks for the comments. So in a nutshell, then what is Christian hip hop? Is there such a thing, iceburg46 doesn't think so. How about you?

[sIXsTRingZ00]

@sIXsTRingZ00 I do think that CM changed the trajectory of XN hip-hop in the 90s into a more theological place and that is why we have Artists like Lecrae, Trip, Da Truth, etc... I believe to the falt of the "XN hip-hop" community we made it like, "If they don't do it like they do it then it aint XN". Or made the assumption that if Christ isn't mention in the song then that person can't possible be a XN, which is untrue. In the end we shouldn't let our preference judge a persons walk...

[sIXsTRingZ00]

I think there are 2 answers. One being Christians that love the Lord, but don't rap about it directly. And the other being Christians who put Christ on the forefront of allof their rhymes. Neither are greater or lesser than the other IMO. To the rapper that doesn't they are free to do just like a person is free to work secular jobs, watch secular TV shows, etc. and still be a XN. Rappers that are Christ exclusive are great (and my personal preference), but that doesn't make them "better."